Estranged AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd will not be joining the band for their gigs in New Zealand, tour manager Garry Van Egmond has confirmed.

In April, Rudd pleaded guilty to charges of threatening to kill and possession of methamphetamine and cannabis. Rudd has been unable to play live with AC/DC on their current world tour as he awaits trial. However, he could theoretically play with the band in New Zealand this December as he lives in the country.

This will not be happening though, according to Van Egmond. “Chris Slade will be on drums,” the tour manager told Bay Of Plenty Times. “He replaced Phil when he left the band some years back and he has been playing in the ‘Rock Or Bust’ tour worldwide.”

Van Egmond added that there was “no confirmation that Phil has left the band permanently” but added: “All I can say is that Phil will not be playing in the New Zealand concerts.”

Speaking in a recent interview Phil Rudd said he was keen on rejoining the band in the future. “There’ll be another tour and another and I’ll be on it. It’ll go until we all die. We’ll probably all have to be dead before it stops.”

Rudd was due to be sentenced on June 26, but the verdict was recently pushed back to July 9.